Steam-engine



(No Model.) 5 sheets-sheet 1.

A. LESPERANGE.

STEAM ENGINE No. 550,919. Patented Dem-3, 1895.

' WITNESSES ANDREW B.GRAnA- (No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 2.

A. LESPERA'NGE.

STEAM ENGINE. v v No. 550,919. Patented Dec. 3, 1895..

N L. E!!! N l WITNESSES: Nmfi (No Model.) 5 Shee1;s-Sheet 3.

A. LESPERANGH STEAM ENGINE.

No 550,919. Patented Dec. 3, 1895.

WITNESSES: INVENTOH (No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 4. A. LESPERANGE. STEAM ENGINE Patented Dec. 3, 1895;

Cy lNVEgTOH WITNESSES:

Model) 5 Sheets-Sheet 5.

'A. LESPERANOE.

STEAM ENGINE.

No. 550,919. Patented Dec. 8, 1895.

DO F a-7- WITNESSES: INVENTOP UNIT D STATES PATE T OFFICE;

: ALEXANDER LESPERANCE, OF] LACONIA, NEIVl-IAMPSHIRE.

STEAM-ENGINE...

SPECIFICATION fermmg ea of Letters Patent No. 550,919, dated December 3, 1395.

' Application filedllpril iaisea-Jseral Il a-545,964. (ro an To all whom itmdy concern: I

Be it known that I, ALEXANDERLESPER motive power of a unique mechanical princi' ple and construction; and the objects, of my invention are to construct an efficient engine, which is practical, economical in construction, operation, and use, compact, and ap-- plicable to more .direct and more extended use than engines heretofore constructed. I attain these objects by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which-- i Figure 1 is a general plan. Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation. Fig. 3 is an end elevation. Fig. 4 is a sectional elevation. Figs. 5, 6, and '7 are sectional details of my invention.

Similar letters and numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

The bedor frame A may be made as shown in the drawings for one type of my engine, but may be varied to conform to any type of construction required to suit different uses. On said frame is supported and secured thereto the cylinder B by any means well known to mechanics. Said cylinder is turned out on the inside to give thereto the required, uniformity of diameter and internal evenness and has openings 0 C on opposite sides for the entrance of the sliding disks or plates D D, hereinafter to be referred to and described. The ends of said cylinder B have heads E F of unique construction-4i. 6., they contain the bearings or boxes G H, in which the journal or shaft I of the engine works; they contain the glands J J, by which the packing around the shaft is made to prevent the escape of steam from the cylinder; they have cored therein the annular space K for the motive fluid or steam to enter and pass therefrom into the hollow shaft I, and they contain the chambers N N for the ends of the hollow shaft I to enter and Work, all of which are so fully illustrated in the drawings and will be so fully apparent from the entire description that a more specific reference thereto is herein unnecessary. Said shaft I is cored out or hollow from point 1 to 2. (Shown the draw ings.) It is also increased in size between these points in order to furnish steam room orspace for the motive fiuid'to pass therecapes in its passage through the shaft from the annular grooves. On said shaft I is made (and is a part thereof) the blade or disk 0, which is fitted to the inside ofthe cylinder B, and has its end and sides packed in any wellknown way (see Ct at a) for packing steamjoints, so as to prevent anyescape of the motive fluid when confined between the blade and one of the sliding plates for the purpose herein indicated. In constructing said blade 0 and shaft I where they are united I make a Winding or curved partition Z), (like a helix,) which is an extension of said blade 0 through said shaft I. The blade and shaft Where they are united are cored out, so as to have chan1- bers e e, from which ports or openings ff open out, forming a connection or passage-way f r the steam from the hollow shaft I into the space in the cylinder B between one of the sliding gates D and the blade 0, where the force of the steam is exerted against said blade 0 to turn it and its shaft I. Fitted into the cylinder B, on opposite sides, are two sliding gates or plates D D. Made onto said cylinder, on like opposite'sides, are two chambers P P to receive said sliding gates D D. Said gates are fitted to slide in grooves g 9 made in the heads E F of the cylinder B. Said gates are operated or caused to move in and out by means of the cam Q forcing them out, while the springs S S draw them into the cylinder and against the hollow shaft, as respectively required. Where they come in contact with or against the hollow shaft they are provided with packing to make a steam joint or fit. For the purpose of aiding or extending the more effective operation of the springs S S, I unite them to an eccentric-ring V by eyes or nuptions Z, made on said ring V. The eccentric-cam W is secured to the shaft I and is timed so as to release the pressure or strain on the outgoing gate-at the same time that it increases the strain or tension on the incom 6o Y d, through which the steam enters and es- 1 E F of the cylinder B at either side, as it may be predetermined which way to turn 01*operate the shaft, it being apparent that the exhauststeam will escape from the opposite ports or openings. The steam passes from these-annular grooves K through the portsor openings cl into the hollow shaft I. its passage inside of said hollow shaft I it strikes against and is directed by the helical partition I) of the shaft I and blade 0, so as to pass from said hollow shaft I through the ports or openings f f into that part of the cylinder M between said blade 0 and one of' the sliding valves D. lVhile confined in this chamber its expansive force or power isexpended against the blade 0, which forces it and the shaft I to revolve, thus furnishingorcommunicating the power of the motive fluid to any uses for which it is intended. Said sliding gates (valves orplates) are timed to move out of the cylinder B into the chambers P P when the blade Ohas reached the point where it is to pass by the place in the cylinder occupied by the retired sliding gate and to immediately return to its place in the cylinder after the blade has passed by. \Vhen the sliding gate or plate is closed into its place in the cylinder, it forms a part of the chamber containing the live or operative fluid, the

blade 0 and part of the side and ends of the cylinder forming the rest of the chamber, which holds said live steam until said blade 0 passes the place occupied by the other sliding gate, and said last gate is returned to its place in the cylinder, at which time this last gate, the blade 0, part of the ends, and part of the side of the cylinder form the new chamber for the live steam or fluid to exert its force in against the side of the blade 0, which is moving away from said last-closed gate. At

the same time that the sliding gate (or plate) has so closed that it forms apart of the cham- Continuing on ber holding the live steam the partition Z) 5 5 has reached the point where it-becomes the dividing wall or partition between the live steam and the dead steam in the cylinder, leaving the ports 011 the one side or end of the cylinder open to receive the live steam,

ing the operative or live steam has a full head 6 5 or force of steam therein without any cut-01f and that part holding the dead steam has a free exhaust and entire relief from any back or counter pressure from the dead steam.

WVhile I have calledthe sliding plates D plates, gates/"or valves, it will be seen that they are not valves in thesense the word or term valve is commonl' used to desi O nat'e the reciprocating orgopening and closing valve for the entrance. and exhaust of steam in a steam-engine. As said platesD have no such function,they-aet to form a removable' part of the: cylinder to allow the blade 0 to pass 1 The entranc'eof steam is always open through theannular groove and the hollow shaft into the cylinder at the one end, and the exhaust is always open from the cylinder through the opposite end of the'hollow shaft and the opposite annular groove.

'lhemovement of the sliding gates or plates, 8 5

as and at the proper time, is effected by means of the cam Q and the springs S S, and is clearly shown in the drawings and hereinbefore fully described.

What I claim, anddesire to secure byLet- 9o ters Patent, is

A rotary engine, comprising cylinder heads having. openings U, bearings or boxes G, H, with packing glands J in extension thereof,

and having annular recesses therein, shaft I 5 having anenlarged medial portion with its ends opposingthe glands, the medial portion being furnished with ports (Z, and passages f on opposite sides of winding partition I) in continuation ofblade O, and with ports 6 e,

sliding gates and a means of operating the gates, all as described for the purposes set forth.

ALEXANDER LESIERANCE.

' \Vitnesses:

II. \V. BOARDMAN, EDWIN P. THOMPSON. 

